Hey, guys! I would like to thank everyone for their support and reviews. And a review reminded me that I forgot to tell you all why I perhaps made Althea a bit taller than an usual woman. Well, the thing is that I had the idea for this story before I saw the second season of Agents Of Shield and at first I had the image of a young Adrianne Palicki as Althea. Of course that was before seeing her as Bobbi Morse on the show. So, the image of her as the character is the reason why Althea is as tall as the actress. I decided not to actually choose an actress for her because I know everyone imagines the characters differently and it makes it more fun. Anyways thanks again to everyone and I hope you enjoy this chapter and keep up the reviews :)
Althea woke up to the noise of someone knocking on the entrance door. Confused,she got up as fast as she could and clicked her door open. She remained with her head down as she saw Loki speaking with Sif but she could only understand certain parts of the conversation. Sif usually didn't visit without finding a way to tell them the day before, that meant something wasn't right.
Loki frowned at Sif, still doubting her words.
"Who told you this?"
"I already told you, Heimdall did. Why haven't you told her yet? She is more than ready to know,." Sif asked him in a low voice.
"I would have never expected something like this to happen, Sif. I was just waiting for what in my opinion would be the right moment" He answered holding the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Do you know a way of using the Bifrost without the knowledge of Thor?"
"Some ambassadors will be coming tonight. He will be too busy to notice. If that isn't enough I will make a distraction so that your disappearance goes unnoticed " The warrior stated.
"Looks like we don't have a choice. I'll take care of everything."
"Loki", she paused making sure she had his full attention,"do tell her the truth."
He sighed looking at her and nodded, "I will."
Sif nodded and started to walk away with a big ache in her chest. This would be the first time she would lie to Thor, but it was for the good of the girl. She deserved better. That thought repeated itself in her mind as she kept walking back to the palace.
Loki shut the door tightly and sat on a small chair beside the entrance's window. It was too soon, it would be difficult for her to understand after her encounter with the King yesterday.
"Why do we have to leave?" Althea's voice made him look up, where she stood confused half down the stairs.
"You were eavesdropping, Althea?" He asked her, not really surprised.
"I only heard about using the bifrost and Thor not noticing. I would like to know why." She replied with seriousness.
Loki sighed. He could no longer lie to her. As he had said before, there was no choice.
"You would like to know why." He repeated more to himself than to her.
"Yes, I have all the right to know."
"Always looking for answers, and never taking a 'no' for an answer." He told her in a low voice. It was in those moments when she talked with such determination that she reminded him of Jane.
"Althea, I think you are ready to hear about your mother. Something bad has happened and you should know."
She observed him carefully as she would always do when she read in between the lines looking for any sign that he was lying. "You are never so straight to the point."
He smiled at her observation before answering, "Extreme circumstances call in for extreme measures."
She listened carefully and leaned to one of the walls ready to hear him out. "I'm listening."
"Your mother was-is a mortal, a very brilliant one. When you were just a baby her life was threatened by some enemies of your father. She wasn't scared for her life, she only cared about you. That's when she asked me to take care of you. I raised you as she would have done, but I always knew she was still in danger." He paused mentally cursing himself for his lack of curiosity as to what had been of her while he had been raising Althea."Well, I just received a message from some friends of hers and... Well, she is not very well. She was attacked some days ago and has been in a comma since then."
Althea stayed silence, still processing everything in her brain. "How did you not know of her attack? Why didn't you make sure she was safe?"
"Your mother and I agreed to not keep any kind of communication. She wanted you to be safe at all cost. All that she cared about was you."
"What is her name?"
"Jane Foster." Loki answered solemnly.
For some unknown reason she smiled at the mention of the name. It was not a name that she would have ever heard in Asgard, but a beautiful one in her opinion. That's when the question that Loki had feared came to her mind.
"Then, who's my father? I'm part asgardian after all, right?" Althea asked with a deep frown.
"I was afraid you would ask." He told her with a deep breath. "Yes, Althea, you are still half asgardian. Your father...",He paused looking at her so expectant look;"Your father is Thor." Loki said not knowing how to actually say it. His silver tongue for once didn't find the right way to express it.
"Thor? The king Thor? Is that even possible?" She asked incredulously.
"There are many things you don't know, Althea. Many things that you are still to have knowledge of."
Althea looked down still digesting everything in shock. The King, the man she had found arrogant and mysterious, was actually her father. The way he had spoken to her had sparked some curiosity, but the truth behind it was anything but what she had expected. So many questions started to pop in her mind with just the idea of it.
"Then, who wouldn't you let me talk to him? Wouldn't he be happy to know that I am well." She asked but Loki stayed silently looking to the floor.
"He doesn't know I'm his daughter, does he?" Realization hit her like the first wind of a blizzard.
"No, Althea, he doesn't. He doesn't even know Jane was pregnant when he left her the last time. He never visited her again, he just stopped going to Midgard when he became King." He answered irritated.
"Why are we leaving? To run from the King or to see my mother?" Loki mentally smiled when he noticed not even once had she called Thor her father.
"Mostly, your mother. But I expect Thor not to notice our small trip. There is a group of people on Midgard, who have dedicated their entire lives to saving those who need it. They tried to protect your mother as much as they could, but this was too much. You will meet them when we leave tonight. I think you will get along fairly well with them."
"They are like warriors then?"
"You could certainly say that." Loki said with a smile. "Earth's mightiest heroes sort of thing." Althea laughed at his strange use of such words.
"We need to leave tonight, or Thor will get suspicions." He added. Althea nodded when another question came to her mind.
"Why did my mother ask you to take care of me?" Loki tensed in that moment. He had always been afraid of that question, not even he could explain the reason why. He didn't consider himself Thor's brother, neither did Thor for that matter. Their small adventure with the Dark elves was the only reason why he thought that she actually trusted him.
"I saved your mother's life once. I guess that's why she trusted me." It wasn't a lie, not entirely. Had there been other reasons? Yes. But he thought that part of the story wasn't necessary.
Althea smiled briefly looking at the ground. Once she had expected to never know about her real parents, that perhaps she had been abandoned and Loki had taken pity of her. Knowing that her mother had cared about her made her feel relieved. The truth about her father had disturbed her a bit. She felt disrespect for him on one side, but in the other she wanted to know more about him. What she knew was that she couldn't get those answers from Loki, who obviously despised him.
"Is there any other thing you would like to ask?" Loki questioned.
"Not right now. Other than what are we going to do until the night comes?"
"Well, I was thinking I could keep teaching you about my magic. You could be a magnificent wielder of it some day." A big grin made it's way to Althea's features. She had always been curious about the magic, and when some months ago he had been willing to teach her it had made her day. Loki thought she had enough patience to learn.
And that way she spent the rest of her day with Loki. With patience observing, learning, and practicing. She already knew how to manage some of it. Her teletransportation was progressing. Making clones of herself still on it, but she had already mastered how to morph into different people and species. That day had been the best day ever for her. She was Loki's pride. An excellent company and student of sort.
Soon enough the night came.
Loki made sure they had everything that was necessary until they could get to Stark's tower. They just carried a small bag that contained some knives, one of Althea's quivers full with arrows, two books that contained some of the things Loki had been teaching her during the last months, and finally a letter. The letter he had found in the blanket where Althea had been given to him.
{flashback}
He was already back in Asgard with the small bundle in his arms. He noticed the pitying look Heimdall shot at him as soon as he had raises his head. Deep inside Loki never found a way of hating Jane Foster, he actually admired her in a lot of things. Probably the reason why he had not found a way to reject her wish.
"You knew." Loki told the watcher as he started to made his way out of the Bifrost.
"Yes. I knew you would help her. She is a good person." He replied looking at him.
"I know." Was all Loki said as he started to walk on the rainbow bridge to his home.
He observed the gigantic golden palace he had once called home as he went farther from it. He saw the woods that lead to his cabin deep inside the forest and smiled fondly. He felt the small child stir in his arms and he inclined his head to watch her. The small baby had open her eyes, reveling the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. She seemed confused by his unfamiliar face, but she didn't seem to mind.
"Hello, Althea." He said to the small child, who watched him with curious eyes. "Everything will be fine, little one. You shall be safe."
He watched the small girl look up at him with what seemed a smile. She couldn't be older than four midgardian months. Loki actually felt the urged to smile back at her as he walked inside his cabin.
As he clutched the child closer, he felt something inside her blanket. Careful not to hurt her, he took the blanket off of her. Two envelopes fell to the floor as he did so. Kneeling down he took both of them in his hand.
~sudden end of flashback~
"We are here." Althea said taking Loki out of his thought as they reached Heimdall.
Althea seemed fascinated by the rainbow bridge Loki had never gave her permission to go to. She watched in as the colors of the bridge changed under her feet and finally lead to the gatekeeper. She was intrigued by the talk man with golden eyes that watched over the bridge. She was surprised when the man smiled down at her.
"I see you received my message." Heimdall said in his grave voice.
"That we have. We would like to leave as soon as possible." Loki told him.
"Of course." He then directed his gaze to Althea; "Is nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise." She answered with a smile.
The gatekeeper made his way to the portal with Loki and Althea close by. He slid his sword in the middle of the floor making the portal open in front of them.
"I wish you the best of luck."
Neither of them had time to answer as they both got sucked into the portal. Althea felt as a rush of air had suddenly punched her on the lungs as she traveled down. She could see a blur of colors everywhere and an infinite amount of stars until she suddenly felt the solid ground under her. Surprised, she lost her balance falling face first to the ground, she placed her hands in front of her just in time before she actually slammed her face to the hard floor.
Loki had to laugh as he saw her fall confused. "Such a graceful entrance." He told her sarcastically helping her get up.
She glared at him dusting herself and whatever dignity she still held. It was then when she noticed that they had landed on a metal platform, nothing close to the actual ground.
"Loki, where are we?" She asked him confused.
"Welcome to Stark Tower, Althea."